Shoe-brushing machine.



J. WALSH.

SHOE BRUSHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1914.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

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APPLICATION I LED APR. 6, 1914 1 127 834, Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

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JOHN WALSH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOE BRUSI-IING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

Application filed April 6, 1914. Serial No. 829,901.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN VVALSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe- Brushing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in shoe brushing machines, the object of the invention being to provide a machine of the character stated which will thoroughly brush the shoe of the operator when the shoe is moved between a series of brushes carried by the machine, and so arranged as to contact with the sides, toe, and heel of the shoe, as the shoe is moved backwardly and forwardly upon a wheeled carrier.

A further object is to provide a shoe brushing machine with an improved wheel carrier adapted to receive the foot of the operator, and when moved backwardly and forwardly in a given path, compel the shoe to contact with spring-pressed brushes and be thoroughly cleaned.

lVhile my improved machine is designed for brushing the shoes, it also constitutes a polishing machine when suitable polish is applied to the shoes before contact with the brushes.

A further object is to provide a machine of the character stated which can be manufactured and sold at an extremely low price, and which embodies in its construction simplicity, strength and durability.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating in dotted lines, the position of a shoe, and showing the brushes in the position they will assume when in contact with the shoe. Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section through the center of the machine. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section illustrating the arrangement of side and heel brushes with their cooperating parts, but omitting the toe brush for purpose of clearness, and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical section on the line 4l 1 of Fig. 3;

1 represents the base of my improved mathe shoe, indicated in dotted lines at 6, is

adapted to bear, so as to compel the carrier to move when the operator moves his foot.

The wheels 7 of the carrier run upon the base 1 and are prevented from lateral movement by the guide rails 22. A coiled spring 8 connects a depending screw-eye 9 on the carrier 3 with a screw-eye 10 at the end of the base so that the carrier is held by the spring, and returned by the spring, to normal position. Bars 11 are secured to the respective ends of the base 1 and project above the base in the path of the wheels 7 so that these bars act as stops to limit the movement of the carrier and into one of these bars the screw-eye 10, above referred to, is secured. Brackets 12 are secured by screws 13 to the base 1 at opposite sides of the track-way for carrier 3. These brackets are preferably metal castings with perforated feet 11, to receive the screws 13 and provided with openings 15 for the reception of rods 16, which are secured to, and support brushes 17 in a horizontal position.

The rods 16 slide freely in the openings 15 and are provided with coiled springs 18, exerting an inward pressure on the brushes 17 pressing them against the sides of the shoe. Cotter pins, or other securing devices 19, are projected through the rods 16 and limit the movement of the rods by the springs, yet permit the brushes to be readily separated from the brackets whenever desired.

The brushes 17, I term side brushes, because they engage the sides of the shoe, and to these side brushes 1'? I connect heel brushes 20 by means of hinges 21. Bow springs 22 are secured to the side brushes 17 and bear against the backs of the heel brushes 20, tending to move the heel brushes at an angle to the side brushes, so that they will exert a pressure against the heel of the shoe and thoroughly brush the same.

Uprights 23 are secured to base 1 and support a cross bar 24:. This cross bar 2 1 is located at an angle to the post and has a sharp upper edge 25, which may be utilized for scraping the shoes if desired. A toe brush 26 is connected by a hinge 27 with the crossbar 24 and a bow spring 28 secured to bar '24,, exerts pressure against the brush 26, to force the latter downwardly and rearwardly, so that when it is moved by the toe of the shoe, its bristles will brush against the toe and thoroughly clean or polish the same.

To hold the side brushes 17 in their normal position, I provide laterally projecting arms 29 on the brackets 12, and these arms project under and support the side brushes, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

In operation, the shoe is placed upon the carrier 3. To do this, it is necessary to position the toe of the shoe against the toe brush 26 and force the latter forwardly, until the 'heel of the shoe can be brought down in a plane slightly above the carrier. The shoe isthen moved rearwardly to force the heel brushes20 to one side, and allow the heel of the shoe to be properly positioned on the wheeled carrier back of the cross piece 5. The wheeled .carrier is then reciprocated forwardly and backwardly assisted by the spring 8, and during this movement, the

side, heel and toe brushes exert a brushing action, spring-pressed, against the sides, heel and toe of the shoe, so that all parts of the shoe are thoroughly brushed. It is to be understood, of course, that the carrier is moved by the action of the operators leg, causing the wheeled carrier to ride backwardly and forwardly between the guide rails 2, and this movement may be kept up as long as desired to thoroughly brush the. shoe. v I

While the several figures show the position of the brushes when the shoe is in position on the carrier, it is to be understood that when the shoe is removed from the carrier, the brushes will be moved by their several springs inwardly. In other words, by reference particularly to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the position of the shoe holds the side brushes 7 at an angle to their brackets. l/Vhen no shoe is between the brushes,

these brushes will assume a position parallel to the brackets, and as the shoe rides backwardly and forwardly, they will assume many diiierent angles due to the varying shape of the shoe, and its position. It will also be noted that one of the side brushes is considerably in advance of the other. This is desirable because it permits the heel brushes to alternately engage the heel portion of the shoe and to give the necessary brushing action around the back of the shoe, as the latter moves between them.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at libertyto make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

, Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A shoe brushing machine, comprising a base, brackets on the base, side brushes movably connected to the brackets, heel brushes hinged to the side brushes, and a wheeled carrier movable on the base between said brushes, substantially as described.

2. A shoe brushing machine, comprising a base, brackets on the base, side brushes movably connected to the brackets, heel brushes hinged to the side brushes, a toe brush, and a wheeled carrier movable on the base between the side andheel brushes and under the toe brush, substantially as described. v a j I 3. A shoe brushing machine, comprising a base, guide rails on the base, a wheeled carrier movable longitudinally of the base between said rails, a spring connecting said secured to the base, side brushes having rods projecting through openings in the brackets, springson the rods exerting inward pressure on the side brushes, heel brushes hinged to the side brushes, springs exerting pressure against the heel brushes, and a toe brush located in front of the carrier, substantially as described. 7 4. A shoe brushing machine, comprising a base, guide rails on the base, a wheeled carrier movable longitudinally of the base between said rails, a spring connecting said carrier with one end of the base, brackets secured to the base, side brushes having rods, projecting through openings in the brackets, springs on the rods'eii'erting inward pressure on the side brushes, heel brushes hinged to the side brushes, springs exerting pressure against the heel brushes, uprights on the base, a cross bar connecting the uprights, a toe brush hinged at its upper end to the cross bar and located in front of the carrier, and a spring exerting pressure against the back of the toe brush, substantially as described.

5. A shoe brushing machine,

comprising a base hav ng a wheeled carrier thereon, a

spring normally holding the wheel carrier to move them toward each other, heel.

brushes, hinges connecting the heel brushes to the ends of the side brushes, bow springs secured to the side brushes and bearing against the backs of the heel brushes, and a shoe supporting carrier movable between said brushes, substantially as described.

7. A shoe brushing machine, comprising a base, brackets on the base, side brushes movably connected to the base, springs exerting pressure on the side brushes tending to move them toward each other, heel brushes, hinges connecting the heel brushes to the ends of the side brushes, bow springs secured to the side brushes and bearing against the backs of the heel brushes, and 15 one of said side brushes located in advance of the other, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN WALSH. lVitnesses:

M. E. DrrTUs, OHAs. E. Po'rTs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

1 Washington, D. 0. 

